Compared to the well-recognized coral reef and seagrass ecosystems, the diverse seaweed communities of Dongsha Atoll that change with the seasons have received relatively less attention. The Headquarters compiled the results of seaweed surveys conducted at Dongsha Atoll from 2013 to 2015 and published the Dongsha Atoll Seaweed Ecological Field Guide. Through richly illustrated text and photographs, the book introduces the species, distribution, and morphological characteristics of seaweeds, providing the public with an opportunity to appreciate the beauty of seaweed ecology. Notably, this field guide is the first to include genetic barcodes of seaweeds, enabling researchers to download and compare molecular data for species identification—an innovative milestone.
The Dongsha Atoll Seaweed Ecological Field Guide was produced based on two years of comprehensive research conducted by Professor Wang Wei-lung and his team from National Changhua University of Education, commissioned by the Headquarters. The study included a full survey of seaweed species and ecology in the waters of Dongsha Atoll and identified 55 newly recorded species for Dongsha through molecular biological techniques, making the findings particularly valuable.
In addition to introducing general knowledge about seaweed morphology, life history, habitats, and distribution, the guide describes the morphological features of 122 species across four major groups: cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), red algae, brown algae, and green algae. It also highlights three genera—Caulerpa, Padina, and Lobophora—whose external characteristics are easily confused, presenting their respective phylogenetic trees for researchers’ reference.
Through the publication of this book, the Headquarters hopes it will serve not only as a practical reference for marine research but also inspire the public to discover the remarkable diversity of seaweeds and, in turn, recognize the importance of marine conservation.
